Machine for binding books with plastic bindings



Nov. 23, 1943. c. E. EMMER 2,334,815

MACHINE FOR BINB ING BOOKS WITH PLASTIC BINDINGS Filed Feb. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 67 Cfiar/e; E. [miner by I i Nov. 23, 1943. c. E. EMMER MACHINE FOR BINDING BOOKS WITH PLASTIC BINDINGS Filed Feb. 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /ZJI I EHEI" Nov. 23, 1943. c. E. EMMER MACHINE FOR BINDING BOOKS-WITH PLASTIC BINDINGS Filed Feb. 10, 1940 4 SheeIs-Sheet a 'UF w C/mP/es 5 Emma? Ill E17 I bQ No 2st, 1943.

c. E. EMMER MACHINE FOR BINDING BOOKS WITH PLASTIC BINDINGS 4 4 sheets-sheet 4 EVER Char/es E. Emma! Filed Feb. 10, 1940 backbone is relatively wide and lies onthe sur-' described operation; I

" Patented Nov. 1943 v 1 "assisisfi d MACHINEFOB BINDING BooKs'vvr'rn I rLas'rlo BINDINGS" r r Chafles Edward-Emine r, Chicago, IlL, assignorto y corporation of Illinois General Binding Corporation,- Chicago, ,Ill., a;

Application February 10,, 1940, Serial No. 3131229 This invention relates to th'-art of binding books with mechanical bindings and particularly with the-typeof bindings knownin'the trade as plastic bin'dings; I Two-principal forms of plastic bindings are in useinthis country at 5;- the present time, one of 1 them i being shown in v the -U. S. patent to Douvry No. "1,970,285, granted August 14, 1934, andthe other-being shown in my copending application-for patent entitled Plastic binding, Serial No, 227,242," 110: filed August 29, 1938. Both; of vthese bindings are formed of aresilient plastic; such as Cellu' loid, cellulose acetate, or a suitable synthetic resin, and comprise a longitudinally extending portion; termed a backbone, v anda plurality or; rings evenly spaced from.each other and formed of fingers extending from one" edge, of-the backbone and curled around to formri-hgs l V In the Douvry type of plasticbindingi-Ftlie face of the imaginarycylinder definedby-pthe, rings. In the other form of plastic binding, the backbone is narrow and lies at an angle to the adjacent portionof the rings. 1 In the form of plastic binding With the Wide backbone, the ends of the fingers overlap the backbone,- and; in the other form of plastic binding, the ends of thefingers overlap the base portions of {the fingers next to the backbone, but, in both formsof; binding, the fingers can be straightened outfit-order to open the rings to'allowthe' sheets-tdbebound to be placed upon the binding. I f 1 The sheets tobe bound with the plastic bind ing' are each provided witha row ofholes along one edge, the spacing of the holes being' the' same as thespacing ot the rings of the binding, To bind the sheets with the binding, the r ngs of the binding are opened up; the-pages are in serted upon the-fingers forming the openedup" rings, and the fingers are allowed to sp rin g back ,into their original ring form. 7

One of the principal objects of the present invention is-to provide aflmachine for con-- venientlyand quickly carrying out "the above" Another object ofthis invention" is to-"prov e a machine for; opening: plastic bindin'gsfwhi'ch' will both engage-and openthe ringslof a bind; ing in response to a single movement onthe part of the operator. v j Another object of 'tl'iistinve'ntionis 'tolprovid a machine for'openingiplastic bindings l-whicliisi operated entirely by the ,feet of the operator, thereby leaving the hands of'the operator free for inserting bindings in" themachine and for placing ings ln 1 provide amachine 'forcarryingout the above described operation and-readily adjustable td different sizes of bindings. so thatit will operateequally well uponi largetand small bindings} -Anothe13 object of the present invention is to provide a means for positively holding the rings' of the-binding against lateral deformation when invention is the provision of two sets of means ior- grasping :the. {binding, one means being adapted toholdeither=the back of theebinding,

orthe ringsvvhere they are joinedto the back,. 20-

and the othermeans being: adapted to engage.

the ringsat a point spacedvfrom the'back and movement ot-:1 one; of the. binding-engaging means relative to the other maybe accom-- plished by moving both of the means or by mov-a;

ing eitherwone orzztheiother. a .7 r Another featurewotrthe present invention.

m the'iprovision of means. for vertically adjust.-

ing one 'ofethe binding engaging .means u relative to the other inorder to adapt the machine operate on different sizes of. bindings ,o

ally.-

Other objects "and features of the zinventionjwill appear from the following description and accompanying; .drawings, in which: I

t Figure lis azplan view ofoneof the preferred,

embodimentswof the invention; v

Figure 2xis.-a.;plan view, on an; enlarged; scale;

oflthe 'form'of the invention shownin Figure: 1,, with the toplplate'of the device removed to more clearly illustrate its'interior"construction;

;Figure 3 is a cross-section; on the; HH Q IH- JCII 'oi l figure 2; looking in the direction of the ar- Figure 4 cross-section on t the 1ine Iv;'1v" oLEfigure 2 1ooking; in v the; direction ofithe ar-. 7

rows;

V Figure 5i a section on line of j urea, lookiriefdown in the jdirection of the ar-i the leaves to be bound upon the bind Figurefi, looking in the directionof thearrowsi the arrows;

of Figure' 2, looking in the direction of'the arof the front top plate I! towards the rear top rows and showing the same portion of the device plate I6; i Y s that is shown in Figure V The upper surfacesof the fingers 26 are milled a Figure, 7 is a horizontal section through a por- 5 or otherwise formed to lie below the surface of tion of the device on'the line VII-VII of Figthe main portion of the plate H, as' shown in ure e looking down in the direction of thear- Figure 6; and the depressed surfaces of th finl rows;

gers 26 arecontinued backas "far as :the end of :Figure 6 is cross-section on the 1ineVIVI gerswhich project back from the main portion Figure-3 isa longitudinal section through a the-s1ots"25'1 The depressed surfaces 27 along portion of the device on the linegVIII-VIII of side of the narrow portions of theslots 25 are of V Figure 9' is a longitudinal sectiononthe dine- IX-IX of Figure 3; looking in'the dir'eotion iof V ac esi and the adjacent undepressedsurface of the plate llf Thus, the depressed surfaces 21 areieaoh bounded 'on one side by the narrow poruse .Of one ofthe slots 25 and on' the other side showing a binding in the machine and about "byoneofthe shoulders 28. This arrangement to be opened; t I i i f Figure 11' is a-view similar to-FigurelO 'but, purpose thereof will be described presently.

Figure 10 is a cross-section through a portion showingthe machine with the binding opened; "The principal purpose of the slots '25 is to alands-5 I -i 1' a 1 lowit e m m rs a d 30 ,w ease and Figure 12 isan end View, on a greatly'enlarged 7 open the binding to project up through the plate scale'gofhook forming apart of the-machine} H andfm'ove asrequiredto open the binding;

,. JI'he particl l irv form of the invention shown These members comprise aplurality of uprights the same width as the fingersit so that shoul-Q ersZB. are formed between the depressed sur-'- ;isan important feature of my invention, and the r in the draw nss;is; -an;impr v m t, of my iMa- 2 one:p ei ns othr ugh each slot 25, and a chine ior applyingpiastic bindings and-"the plurality oi -wire hooks; fimeachhook' being like: describedqin, my' copending application for locatedjn the wide part of a slot 25 between the patentvSeriaLNo. 226,032, filed ,August 2 2 l9r38. uprightifi and the main portion of the plate 17.

Thepresent devioecompris'es a; case or frame: [2 Each; of the uprights 29 is formed withv an irri t which fitsiin anopehinein'. the. t p Hoof a suit- 30 el ediu er su face a d a hoo 3| a apted t v able table. .orfwork. bench and which iszformed 7 receive the longitudinal backbone32 ofithebinde Withad shoulder J3 seated-upon thetable or bench ing, a s' shown in Figures.10 and 1'1'. Itwill of 'top l llaround'theIopening. ;Thelexact structure course, ,be understood thatthe-pcstsZQ area-r5 of the table or bench is relatively unimportant. f rangedgwith the samespacingas the rings 33 so andxmaybe as in t'ne vmachine described in my 35 that'they will lie betweenthe rings of the bindabove-mentionedcopendingapplication for pat-I ing,-fland;,the hooks; 3l ;wi11- enga ethe backbone enti'cfand -may be provided with a similarrIOot v betwe nt e n sv. 1; ,L c. pedal for. operating :theimachiner The case or r The hooks 3!! wlrj ich lie in front of theuprights frame 12:: is 'provided'with a top formed in two ZSaTejeach iormed with avlaterally extending end D e back; p ti n which, is fixed; to the 40 which is flat on top, as shown in Figure 1 2, and 7 case 12,- and ,a front portion IfL'which can be Which,-;whenthe machine is at rest, lies directly f raised and loweredirelative totheicase i2. 7. lOW the backbone engaginghook 3| on the post i 7 Q The frontitop. portion ll is fiXedtothe-upper 29. Thus, when a binding is placed upon the endsgofia pair. oivertical supports l8 which are ba kbQne b k fil ie ure t e. Y slidable'inguides 'ilili formed integrallyi on thea ri gs 33' of thebinding will pass between the sucinside r the case 912.; Each ofthe uides .lil q t vehqek .3? n occupy th s n s o also forms a bearing for ashaft 2% which carries f Fi lt r be 11013961. that n this D 1 pinions 2!: which engage with-rack teeth 22 on' on the r gs 33 rest upon the depressed surfaces thesupports I8. --Theradjusting shaft 25 extends 2] 9i n la e H- alongside of the shoulders 28. outathrough oneen'dof theic ase J2, as shown in, i k easQ i making h height 9 1 the topplatf Figure'z2,.andlis provided with a knurled knob 5 23' by means of which it maybe easily rotated 'the'abOl-le s dii ai s between the rings L1,: Suitable :means are provided for holding; the

tiallyrectangular and: has noxspecial feature.

' in'aspecial manner;as shownin-Figures 1, 5 and p t the .hei ht ofthe front top-portion ind n a t de r e Surfaces of the for adws mg g top'plateto besecured with whatever size of bindshafti2lliin any desired" adjusted position, this i 1 1 ma ine s e ng used to insert;

means, in thecmachine illustrated, comprising a. c a epe g s 0 the q n nah t e nut 24 threaded upon the shaft 29 and adapted Wi dfire 9* $1 9 ise te ini; the in s}? to bear againstthei-endofthe oaselZ and act as ?r!m? .pe. t f? d?f t ha 15 a amckmitrlx i r Y comphshed by moving the-backbone hooks 3| v he o late is substan J n Qfi D- insie i i QP The rear portlon t t p p 39 relativeto each other and to the top piate' H, The front -portion;.-l l Joithe top plate; which can beadjusted.rverticallyiby the mechanism just .described-,Jisicut vand shaped along its rear :edge

plishdbythemechanism.withinthe case 12 and 6 A 'seriesof deep notches ZB-are formed inthe p-qrtions' namely a r 9 Q Q QP I a 25" havingarelatively widerectangular portion move later'ally'.in the directness their ends 34 xt n in irom the edge of the plate, and-a from one side of each slot 253 'thgother side i r extension 'extendin'gffurther ifitldithe ther of. When thi engaging movement is com I plate "from theend'oftherectangu il f q plet edjtheends se r thefring hooks 3:: lie ditionfas showin in: Figure 5f The portions'26 of and in lm with one side. of the rectangula por rectly eve theffingers lzdandlare withing the V I Y gofthe binding At the same time, the th''topplate between the notches 25 form uphight portionsof the hooks, 3,0 are directly,

" n ajuaa ewm n w, be apparent, for itp enables inacertain mannenthis movement being accom- 7 described'indetail below/The movement which 65 opens the binding may be'divided into'two'distinct i V i asecond ors'pre'a'dingportion; The engaging-por V rearedgeof the front top plate, the notches v on of the/movement-invdlvslthehodks 3a which 253343.15 in line with the: narrow portionsofgthe slots;

in thetopplate I 1; I a ,-In the sepond lOI spreading portion ofithe operation of the'machine; the uprights-29 carrying the backbone engaging hooks g3 move. directly rearwardly igalong. the ,wide portions. of the: slots- 25, while:=the ring-engaging.hooks i3ll;;move; directly forwardly along thenarrowportions of the slots 25', their position at the; end of this-move: ment being shown in Figure ll, As a result of this movement, each ring. 33 of the binding'has been engagedby one ofthering-engaginghooks and; the finger whichjormstthe ring @33- has been uncurled to the position shown-in-Figure 11, this position permitting thejsheets to be readily threaded uponzthe fingers. fA reversal of these movementsallows the fingers to 'recurl intoaring form andpermitthe binding; together with the pages now secured together by it, to .begremoved from the machine r ,p ,-The' mechanism for securing the above. de-

scribed movernents of the members 29' andt3i1- which engage and'open'the binding Will now be described. mechanism comprises; two. car: riages 36 and 37. whichare sildably mounted upon a pair-of; guiderods 38 supported in bosses 39.0n the inside of the case I 2. Thefront carriage '36" has two sets of guide members and 4| secured. to it and supporting a slide 42,- for lateral reciprocation; Theslide is formed of an upper member 42 and a lower member; 43 secured 'together and clamping therbase portionsofthe ringengaging hooksilfl between them. The upper surface of the lower slide member 43 is provided-withsuitable grooves to-receive the clamped portions of the hooks 30 and maintain-them in alignment,

and spaced at the proper distance. from each other.-

The slide 42, 43 is movediato the lleft,.in order to impart the first engagingportion of its move ment to the hooks 30,123 a sliding cam member 44 reciprocably mounted in suitable supports 45; and. 46 on the inside ofthe case 12. The cam;

44 extends fromthefront-tothe rear of the machine, and its left side is engaged-by a roller: mounted on the slide member and: is shaped;

to impartthe desired motion to the slide 142, 4 3. The sliding cam member 44 ismoved rearwardly by a forkedlever v48 pivoted up on a shaft-49 and engaging a pin or roller 5llcarriedby the slid ing cam. The lever48 isactuated by-a cam 5|, fixed to the primary shaft 52 of. the machineand cams 6 i.

' gear 68: which is free to'rotate on the secondary engaging .a roller 530m the-lowerend ofthe lever.

48, as shown in Figure 3.

The primary shaft 52, whichfis iournalled in bearing bosses-5 oarriedbythe ends-of the case i2, is rocked back and forth to operate the ma.-

chine by Ineans-ofa link 55 connected toasuite able foot pedal at-its loweryend and, at its} upper; end, to an armiifif xedto the primaryshaft 52,- as shown in Figure 4, When the primaryshaft;

5.2 is rotated counter-clockwise from the position shown in Figures 3 and L the mechanism which has just beendescribed will cause the slide 42', 43;. carrying the ring -en a ng hooks 3fl, to slide lat,- erallyv far enough to move the ends 34 of the.

hooks 39 into the ringsof the bindin and bring V the upright portions of the hooks 30 in line with the narrow portions ofthe slots 25, thus comple ing the first or ring-engaging movement of the machine; The'reverseoperation is accomplished by suitable springs which returnthe parts to their original positions when theoperator removes his. foot from'the pedal to which the link 55 is;conn ected.' One spring (not shownl raises the foot pedal and returns the'primary shaftqn andcam 5| carriedtherebyto'their original ipo sition. Another spring. 59 returns the l forked lever; 48,.-the camfollower roller 53; and the sliding cam44 .to their original' positionsi- The slide! 42, '43 and the ring hooks 39c arereturned to their original positions by a spring 6.0 securedl'at's one end :to the 1 slide riage-36. a -It .Wil1 b'e-noted from Figure 2 that the side of the sliding cam 44 which engages the roller l'l" comprises a'sloping portion which causesthe late erall'movement of the roller 41 and the. slide 42; V 43, and a straight portion which is parallel to the guide, rods 38 and upon2whiohthero1ler 41 rides after the slide 52, 4.3 and the ring-engaginghooks 3D. carried-thereby have been moved. laterally.

This construction enablesthe front carriage 36 together. with the slide 42; 43 and the hooks 38 to be moved forwardly after the slide 42,. 43' and the hooks 3.6 havebeen moved laterally without causing anyfurther-lateralmovement"of the slide 42, 4.3 'andthehooks 3B.

The forwardrm ovement of the front carriage 9.5 andthe other members carried thereby is' ac complished by means jof'a pair of cams 61' secured to the secondary shaft 49. The camsfil actuponrollers 62 carried by depending arms 63 forming a part of the front carriage 36. Similar rollers B l. and arms 65. areprovided on the rear carriage, the rollersfi i for therear carriage contacting the rear of the cams 6|, while the rollers primary shaft 52 through gearing and a lost motion connection shown in Figures 4 and: 9. r "A' gear 6'i..-fixed on thet primary shaft 52 drives a shaft and is prevented from sliding along the secondary Vshaft-bymeans of a pair of collars B9 and I0 fixed thereto. The collar 10 fixed to thesecondary shaft 49 on one side of the gear 68 has a portion of its periphery cut away, as show-n ,inFigure 9rand in dotted lin'esgin Figure 4 and forms a partof a lost motion connectio nbetween the loosegeartiB and the second ary shaft- 49 The remainder of the lost motion connection is formed-by av pin H projecting from the sideof the loose gearJ-BB and'ad'apted to engage a shoul der 12 at the end of the cut-away portion of the The lost motion connection recited above-le necessaryto delay the movementof the carriages 36' anc1 31 until after the slide 42, 43 and the ring engaging hooks 30 havebeenmoved laterally intoring engagingposition; The parts are adjusted so that, as soon as the lateral. movement men tioned above is completed, -the lost motion-"istaken'up and the forward and rearward-move ment ofthe twocarriages 36 andfi'l-"take'splaces The return of the carriages Stand-B tte their original positions is aocom'plished'by means of a} pair. of-"spri'n'gs 13 extending between the carr'iage's and drawing-them together assoon as''tl-'1eand at; the other (end to the care A knurled nut on the screw 66 is provided to lock it in any desired position. i The secondary shaft 49 is operated from the carriage-separatingIcams Eli are allowed to ref- '3 andf The rear carriage turn to their original positions shown in Figures ing hooks3l are: formed,vbutiinstead of being fixed' directly. to the carriagefil, the Iupright membe'rsiil are, arrangedso'. as to lbeivertically adjustableto enable the apparatus to accommodate. a vla'rgerrange of sizes of :bindings than .would .otherwise be. possible. ,For very 'sm'all bindings, the rearhocks 3| can be placeddown very close to the fronthook ends .3 3 becauseof theirjfiat. tops, and the front plate llgfcan .be raised to engage the under'sides of the rings of thebinding. .Forvery large bindings, the front plate IT is loweredand the rear hooks=3l are raised'as much as necessary. w

a ,The uprights 29 which carry the rear hooks arefixed to a base member. 14 which, inturn,

is bolted to the upper ends of two, verticalstuds 15,.the bolt holes in the base member being elongated fore and aft to permit a slight horizontal adjustment of the uprights 29 relative to the hooksfill. vertical holes in the carriage 3'1, as :shown' in Figure 6, and the front face of each of the studs 75 is formed intoa rack which is engaged by a pinion .16 carried by a shaft 11 journalledin the The shaft 71 extends out rear carriage 3'1.v through a 51013118 in one end of the case 12, the slot permitting the shaft to move backward and forward with the carriageZB-l, and carries a The studs 15 are slidably mounted in' SIlcarries the upright mem *bers ZElupon which'the-rear or-backbone-engagknurled knob 19 by means of whichitmay be ad justed. .Suitable means are provided for hold-' ing the shaft ll in any desired adjusted position, these means, for example, comprising a lock nut 80 threaded on the shaft l? and bearingagainst.

the'end of'a sleeve 8 I lcarried-by the "shaft Ti and havingits other end bearing against one end of the carriage 31.

- Certain accessories, which are not necessary to th operation of the machine, materially facilitate its use.

as, a dual binding. The. dual binding consists, of two'separate binding elements placed-0n thegback of the book, onenear the'topiand one near the bottom, leaving a space between'them,

and is used when it is desired to have a binding costing less than a full lengthbinding or when it isdesired tohaveithe' central portions of the-- inner edges of the pages free of the rings; of the, binding. In placing thetwo' binding: ele-- ments. upon a book to form a dual bindingf.

i t is desirable to placethe'two elements simultaneously in one operation. of the ..-machine.=- aIn The first of these is employed when the book to be bound isto have whatis known order todo this, it ;is,necessary that. the two binding elements be located in the machine atv the proper distance apartlbefore they are opened for the insertion of the leaves of the book;

To facilitate the correct spacing of -the two binding elements; I have provided adjustable pointers or guides82, which are clipped ,upon.

the front'edge of the rear portion 16 of theitop 7 plate of the machine. The ends of the pointers 82 under the top plate l6 have small projections which fit into a groove in the underside of the .top plate I6, holding vthe pointers on the plate and permitting them to be slid laterally of the machine to positions in which they indicate the proper location of the ends of the binding; elements'which are inserted to form a dual bindq This permits the operator, inbinding anumber of similar books with: dual binding}! ing.

' limit the patent granted hereon to the specific" construction whichI have shown, but it is to be t6 readily place the binding in the properpo' l tion in the machine without any loss oi. time.

- .Another accessory which has been found to be of"considerable.utility is a device; shown in Figures 1 and 2, for; tightening the rings of the binding 'after they have been sprea'd'open and allowed to'close through the holesin the sheets of the bookbyjthefnachineQThis device com prises .a iV-shaped'trough"formed by sloping front and rear {side walls 31and"84 memo a base secured-to the rear portion 16 of the top plateof f the machine. "A shelf 85 is fixed in back of thetrough83, 84 and may be used to keep a supply of the bindings to be inserted.

.After ea0h.b0Ok'iS bound, there 'is a'slight tendency-for therings of the binding tot-fail to; return entirely to their 'original shape.-'To" overcome this difficulty, the bound book is placed upright in thetrough 83, 84, with the binding element wedged in the trough by theweight of the book itself Each 'book' is left in thispos ition-while the'next book is being bound, and I during this short interval of time the rings are' forced back to their original shape. v From the abo've,it will'be seen that I have provided a machine for opening plastic bindings. which is readily adjustable for use with differ-- ent sizes of bindings. 'The vertical distancesbe tween the: ends 34 of the ring-engaging hooks 30, the front top plate [1, and the backbone holdinghooks 3 lmay be separately andindividually adjusted by the means which I have described above, The distance between the two 1 carriages 35' and 31 can also be adjusted by means of the stop screws66,'so that each bind-if mg, nomatter what its size, will be opened;

the correct distance.

It will also be seen that I have provided a" means for holding the fingers of the bindings againstdateral deflection while they are being opened and'whileth'e pages are; being placed upon them. This means comprises the shoul ders 28 formed in the front topfplate, l1 and against which th edges of the fingersor rings 33 ofthe binding'are' held bythe hooks 30 when] the binding is opened.

derstobd 'th'at this machine nlay readily be modi-g fied; asflfor example; by-merely changing'the shapeof-the hooksl3l fori engaging the back-: boneyto-enable it to-be used with other form's of bindings than theone for which it was'specifica'lly' designed. I therefore do 'not intendto clearly understood that it embraces all construe tions falling within the terms of any one or! more of the following claims.

- I' claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers curved to 'formrings, means for holding the binding, means for uncurlingsaid fingers, andaplurality of par-' allel' shoulders havingthe same spacing as said rings and adaptedto engage the 'edges of saidrings i simultaneously, said shoulders thereby rovidiniz a guidesurfacerfor eachffingerlas said; openedto hold said nngersag 11 t te 2,;In a machine for opening "plasticbin s form rings, means for holding the binding, means ior uncurling the fingers thereo',f, and; a member having a" plurality bfspacedsurfacesperpendicw lar, to the, axis of saidbindineqassaid ind ng is held n said machine, said surface having t e same spacing asthe'fingers of the binding to be opened and against which said fingers bear as they are uncur'led, thereb'yto hold said fingers against lateral deflection.

s; Ina machine'for opening a jbn emgnevihg T rings formed of resilient curved fingrs extending' from an edge of a longitudinallyextendingbackf bone, means for holding: said *bin'din'g' ne'a'r said backbone, rneans-forengaging said rings on the inside thereof, means for-moving said; first 7 and second means apart and therebyiopening said rings, and meansifor engaging the'lateralffedges of said rings during said opening operation and thereby preventing-lateral{deflection thereof 4. ma machine-for opening abindlng having rings formed of resilientcurved finge'r's ext'end ingfrom an edge bf a-longitudinally extending backbone means for holding said binding near said backbone, means forengaging said ring 1 the inside thereof-,'meansiormovingfsaid first and second means apart and thereby q'peaings s rings, anda'stationaryj'member having port as projecting between said rings and engaging" the lateraledgeslthereof during said op ening' opera? tion for preventing lateral 'deflectionthereoil 5. Ina machine .for opening a ,binding having from an edge of a longitudinally extending backbone, a support means mounted on said support for holding said binding'near said backbone, a plurality of hooks mounted on said support for engaging said rings on the inside thereof, means for moving said backbone-engaging means and said hooks apart and thereby opening said rings, and a member on said support having portions projecting between said hooks'and adapted to engage the lateral edges of said rings during said opening operation for preventing lateral deflection thereof.

6. In a machine for opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers extending from one edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved to form rings, means for supporting and holding said backbone, means for interiorly engaging said rings, means for moving said backbone supporting and holding means and said ring-engaging means apart horizontally, means havinga plurality of resilient fingers-curved o h v bone hjolding [means and said ring engaging rings formed of resilient curved fingers extending for engaging the underside of and supporting said V rings, and means for moving said backbone supporting and holding means vertically relative to said ring-supporting means. a

'7. In a. machine for opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers extending supporting and holding means vertically relative to said ring-engaging means.

8. In a machine for opening plastic bindings 7 having a plurality of resilient fingers extending means. ap t r zon al eans mo nte on supporting said rings; antifmeans for moving said ring-supporting means vertically jrlative' tov said frame. c 7 T f j '9. In, a machine for opening, plastic bind haying a plurality of resilient fingerslextendirig from one edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved. to form rings, a stationaryframefineans mounted-on ,saidframe'ior supporting and holdin'gsaid backbone, means for interiorly engaging said rings, means for 'moving-saidbackbone sue porting, and holding'means and said ringengag ing means apart horizontally, means mounted on said frame for engaging the underside" of supporting saidrings, and indepehdent rnea'ns foradjusting'the height of, said backbone 'supponting and holding means and said ,ring suppfdrting I curved. to, form rings, a stationary frame means mounted on said iraine for holding said backbone,

means mounted ons'aid frame for interiorly engaging said rings, meansjfor moving said back-,- bone-holding means and said ring-engaging means apart horizontally, and. means .forvertipally, adjusting the positiomlof s'aid backbone: holding means relative tosaid'f-ra'm 11; In 'a'macmne for opening plastic bindings having a. plurality of resilient fingers extending from one edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved to form rings, means for holding said binding near said backbone, fingers adapted to m project between said rings and having ends formed to project into said rings, means for adjusting said holding means and said fingers relative to each other, and means separate from said adjusting means for successively moving said fingers so that said ends move into said rings and for causing said holding means and said fingers to move apart.

12. In a machine for opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers extending curved to form rings, means for holding said binding near said backbone and preventing said backbone from moving laterally or longitudinally, fingers adapted to project between said rings and having ends formed to project into said rings,

means for adjusting said fingers and said back-- bone-holding means relative to each other, and means separate from said adjusting means or successively moving said fingers so that said ends move into said rings and for moving said backbone-holding means andsaid fingers apart. 7

13. In a machine for opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers extending from one edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved toform rings, a plate, means for holding said backbone above said plate, means for adjusting the distance between said holding means and said plate, and means for en-ga'gingand uncurling the rings of said binding on said plate.

14. In a machine for'opening plastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers extending from one edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved to form rings, a plurality of members l paceditd plfojectgibetweensaid ringg a d epn Stfllcted 311,0, 4 hold; said; backbone, a 7 plurality or hooks having aligned laterallyiextending terms .nal' portions located in'front offs'aid backboneliol'ding members, means for moving said hooks laterally .for; engaging said terminallportions in said rings, anda ring-supporting member having projections f extending between said iho'oks,

the upper surface of the portions of said projections lying directly below the paths. of said hook terminal portionsbein-g lower than the uppersurface of the adjacent portions of said projections.

' 15. In a m'achine 'for opening. plastic bindings Y having .flal plurality of resilient "fingers extending iromone edge of a longitudinal backbone and curved to form rings, a plurality of members spaced to project between said rings and con structed to hold said, bjackbonefa plurality of hooks having aligned laterally extending termiin'al portions located in front of said backbone holding members, means 'for moving said hooks s laterally for engaging said terminal portions in said rings; meansfor moving said backbone holding members and saidhooks apartparallel to the planesof'said rings ior opening said rings, and a.ring suppor ting member having projecsaid rings, means for moving said backbone-holding members and said hooks apart for Qpening and. a second hook for directly. engaging and hooking; over; 'a. ring of the binding, said second hook "lying beneath" said first hook andbeing horizontally and vertically movable to spread said ring open, and means for moving said second book 7 r i 17'. Ina niachine.forl opening plastic bindings having a plurality'of resilientfingersv curved to formrings, means forholding the binding; means for'uncurling saidl'fingers, and a working plate' the top of which is abovethe level ofthe-bottom tions extending between said hooks, aid projec tions having shoulders on their upper surfaces, said shoulders extending paralleltothe planes of said rings and facing in the directionopp-of V 'sitefto the directionioflateral engaging "move ment, f said hooks.

'- 1 In a machine for opening plastic'bindings' gagingfand' holding thebackbone or the binding,

. a a aframe, a hook mounted on; said f rame for enof the binding held in said holding means, said plate having a plurality of parallel'grooves formed.

therein having the same center to center spacingas thatof the rings and located adjacent; I

the uncurled fingers, the uncurled fingers lyin in said grooves, corresponding edges of the grooves, forming a plurality of parallel shoulders having the same spacingas the rings and adapted L to engage the edges ofthe ringssimultaneouslmT said shoulders thereby providinga guide surface foreach finger. as said fingersrare opened to hold I a said fingersagainst lateral deflection; 13.-In a. machine for openingplastic bindings having a plurality of resilient fingers curved to form rings, meansforholding the binding,-means foruncurlingsaid fingers, andaworking plate providing surfaces upon which the fingers are uncur1ed,. said plate having a iplurality oi ridges between adjacent fingers forming a plurality of parallel shoulders having the same spacing as said rings 'andadaptedlto engage the edges of said 7 rings simultaneously, said shoulders thereby pro viding a guide surface for'each finger as said fingers 'areopened. to h01d S3,id fingers against lateral deflection.

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